Monarch ButterflyMonarch butterflies are known for the incredible mass migration that brings millions of them to California and Mexico each winter. North American monarchs are the only butterflies that make such a massive journey—up to 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers). The insects must begin this journey each fall ahead of cold weather, which will kill them if they tarry too long.Monarch butterflies begin life as eggs and hatch as larvae that eat their eggshells and, subsequently, the milkweed plants on which they were placed. (Monarchs are dependent on milkweed plants, which larvae eat nearly exclusively.)Fattening larvae become juicy, colorful caterpillars, then create a hard protective case around themselves as they enter the pupa stage. They emerge as beautifully colored, black-orange-and-white adults. The colorful pattern makes monarchs easy to identify—and that's the idea. The distinctive pattern warns predators that the insects are foul tasting and poisonous.Butterflies that emerge from chrysalides (pupa state) in late summer and early fall are different from those that do so during the longer days and warmer weather of summer. These monarchs are born to fly, and know because of the changing weather that they must prepare for their lengthy journey. Only monarchs born in late summer or early fall make the migration, and they make only one round trip. By the time next year's winter migration begins, several summer generations will have lived and died and it will be last year's migrators' great grandchildren that make the trip. Yet somehow these new generations know the way, and follow the same routes their ancestors took—sometimes even returning to the same tree. Many scientists are concerned about the eastern population of monarchs, which summer east of the Rocky Mountains. This group is occurring in ever smaller numbers, and its survival may be threatened by a series of natural disasters in the Mexican wintering grounds, as well as by reduced acreage of milkweed plants in their summer home.

Appletons New Butterfly Gardens of WisconsinMagnificent potential! Appleton's new Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin finally opened its doors to the public on July 13-14th, 2013. Two weeks after the grand opening we arrived to view beautifully landscaped and manicured grounds; a huge butterfly maze in center of 2 acres of praire flower field, with mowed pathways; a viewing tower; beautiful nature center and a huge butterfly house. We were greeted at the front door of the nature center by co-owner Jack Voight. Marty Voight also a co-owner personally greeted us at the front door of the butterfly house. Jack and Marty both assured us that the grounds were a work in progress and humbly invited us back to watch them grow with the gardens. 200 butterflies were released for the grand opening and although, through natural selection, only several still survived we thoroghly enjoyed ourselves viewing and capturing images of both the butterflies that remained and the prairie flowers you see here. Want to know more: http://www.butterflygardensofwisconsin.com

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July 30th, 2013

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